Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments

Renamed the 'Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee' to the 'Utah Behavioral Health Policy Review Committee' in multiple sections to align with the creation of the new Utah Behavioral Health Commission.

Added a definition for 'Behavioral Health Commission' in the definitions section for alcohol-related enforcement and treatment funding.

Changed the reporting authority for the Youth Electronic Cigarette, Marijuana, and Other Drug Prevention Program from the Health and Human Services Interim Committee to the Utah Behavioral Health Commission.

Updated the deadline for municipalities to demonstrate eligibility for alcohol-related prevention grant funds from January 1, 2033, to July 1, 2029.

Corrected a typo in the definition of 'In-custody death' regarding inmate transport for medical care.

The appropriation for the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund was reduced from $26,950,700 to $750,000 for fiscal year 2027.

Administrative authority for the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund was transferred from the Governor to the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.

New reporting requirements were added for the Department of Health and Human Services regarding in-custody deaths in state facilities, including causes, contributing factors, and notification policies.

New committees were established for tracking alcohol abuse effects and for health workforce advisory purposes.

The name of the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee was changed to the Utah Behavioral Health Policy Review Committee.

Repeal dates for various sections related to the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Committee were updated to July 1, 2029, or December 31, 2026.

Transfers administration of the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund from the Governor to the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health, which now manages grant applications and reviews.

Requires the Department of Corrections to submit annual reports on in-custody deaths, withdrawal treatment protocols, and transgender inmate housing assignments, similar to existing county jail requirements.

Mandates the creation of a statewide database to track individuals committed under involuntary commitment orders for mental health or substance use disorders.

Establishes a new Family Outreach Specialist position to engage with families of individuals who died by suicide or overdose and assist the medical examiner with postvention efforts.

Renames the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee to the Utah Behavioral Health Policy Review Committee and updates its membership and duties.

Expands the standard consent form for sharing mental health information to include the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Department of Corrections as authorized recipients.

Updates the expiration date for the Utah Health Workforce Advisory Council from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2029.

Added specific appropriations of $26.95 million for operating budgets and $88 million for capital projects for fiscal year 2027 to support behavioral health initiatives.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create a standard consent form allowing justice-involved individuals to share their mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses with specific entities like courts and first responders.

Mandates the creation and maintenance of a statewide database tracking all individuals committed involuntarily under mental health statutes.

Establishes a new Family Outreach Specialist position to engage with families of individuals who died by suicide or overdose to assist with intervention and postvention efforts.

Requires county jails to submit detailed annual reports on prisoner demographics, in-custody deaths, and substance use treatment protocols to the Behavioral Health Commission.

Renamed the 'Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee' to the 'Utah Behavioral Health Policy Review Committee' to align with the new unified commission structure.

Updates law enforcement training requirements to include specific modules on crisis intervention responses for mental health, autism spectrum disorder, and sexual trauma.

Amends criteria for admission to the Utah State Hospital and involuntary commitment hearings to ensure alignment with current diagnostic standards and less-restrictive alternatives.

The entity administering the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund changed from the Governor to the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.

County jails must now submit detailed annual reports on prisoner populations, in-custody deaths, and withdrawal treatment protocols to the commission.

A new statewide database of involuntary commitments must be established by December 31, 2026, with restricted access to protect privacy.

Behavioral health receiving centers must adopt rules specifying when they must notify law enforcement or diversion contacts about a patient's status.

A new Family Outreach Specialist role is created to engage with families of individuals who died by suicide or overdose to assist with intervention and postvention.

Peace officers must now annually report to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice regarding their compliance with crisis intervention training.

A standard consent form must be created by December 31, 2026, allowing justice-involved individuals to authorize sharing of their mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses with specific entities.

The Utah State Hospital may now admit individuals with severe neurological disorders in addition to severe mental disorders.

Tax revenue distribution formulas for alcohol-related offenses were updated, and the committee overseeing these funds is being renamed to the Utah Behavioral Health Policy Review Committee.

The deadline for municipalities to demonstrate eligibility for certain tax distributions changed from January 1, 2033, to July 1, 2029.

Reallocated $450,000 in non-Medicaid behavioral health funding between a database operation and a behavioral health receiving center grant program.

Created a new grant program for community-based peer support services to assist individuals recovering from mental health or substance use disorders.

Changed the administration of the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund from the Governor to the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.

Established a statewide database to track individuals involuntarily committed for mental health treatment to improve oversight and privacy management.

Updated rules for behavioral health receiving centers to require specific notifications to law enforcement and diversion contacts regarding a patient's status in a treatment program.

Created a standard consent form allowing justice-involved individuals to disclose their mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses to specific entities like courts and first responders.

Adjusted eligibility criteria and distribution formulas for tax revenue related to homeless shelters and alcohol-related offenses, including changes to how municipalities without law enforcement agencies receive funds.

Extended the deadline for certain behavioral health committee reports and adjusted effective dates for various sections to May 6, 2026.

Created a new Family Outreach Specialist role to assist medical examiners with suicide intervention and engage with families of individuals who died by suicide or overdose.

The administrative authority for the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund was changed from the Governor to the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.

A new statewide database was created to maintain records of all individuals committed under involuntary commitment orders.

A new 'Family Outreach Specialist' position was created to engage with families of individuals who died by suicide or overdose and assist the medical examiner.

New rules require behavioral health receiving centers to notify law enforcement and prosecutors about justice-involved individuals' participation in treatment programs.

The Department of Health and Human Services must provide a list of screening tools and create a standard consent form for sharing mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses with specific entities.

Congregate homeless shelters are now permitted to expand their bed capacity up to 135% under specific conditions, such as having municipal consent and complying with building codes.

The 'Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee' was renamed the 'Utah Behavioral Health Policy Review Committee' and its membership was expanded to include advocates, recovery specialists, and representatives from various sectors.

Establishes a new Utah Behavioral Health Commission as a central authority to coordinate behavioral health initiatives independently from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create and maintain a statewide database of all individuals committed involuntarily for mental health treatment.

Mandates county jails to submit detailed annual reports on prisoner demographics, in-custody deaths, withdrawal treatment policies, and substance use screening outcomes to the new commission.

Allows first responders to provide electronic copies of local mental health services lists to individuals seeking help, expanding previous physical-only options.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide a list of screening tools used in jails and make recommendations for evidence-based tools by January 2027.

Creates a new Family Outreach Specialist position to assist medical examiners with suicide intervention and engage with families of individuals who died by suicide or overdose.

Creates a new grant program to fund community-based peer support services for individuals recovering from mental health or substance use disorders.

Modifies the distribution formula for alcohol enforcement funds, shifting the primary oversight role from the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee to the new Behavioral Health Commission.

Updates the list of recipients for mental health disclosure consent forms to include county pretrial services, the Department of Corrections, and the Board of Pardons and Parole.

Changes the notification timeline for involuntary commitment orders from 'immediately' to 'no later than two business days' after the court enters the order.

Allows congregate shelters to temporarily expand bed capacity up to 135% of their designated limit with municipal consent to address homelessness surges.